Collectors Are on the Lookout for These Classic Bikes
Motorcycles don’t just represent the pinnacle of freedom on the road. They’re often tied to historical events and periods and often represent the hopes and aspirations of the generations in which they were produced. Also, they’re cool, man. Let’s take a look at the classic motorcycles that are now collector gold.
1952 Vincent Black Shadow
In the world of classic motorcycles, few come quite as close to the prestige - and speed - embodied by the Vincent Black Shadow. A landmark of engineering, it was the fastest production motorcycle of its time. The kicker? Only 1,774 units were ever produced, making this one of the most coveted bikes in the world.
1937 Brough Superior SS100
If the later Vincent Black Shadow defined what a motorcycle could be in the latter half of the 20th century, the Brough Superior SS100 is what defined what a motorcycle should be, period. A hand-built mechanical marvel, its supreme (see also: superior) craftsmanship earned it the nickname “the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles”.
2003 Indian Chief
The 2003 Indian Chief may not look like the fanciest thing on wheels, but that’s only if you don’t know its history. This iconic motorcycle was driven by the one and only Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator III: Rise of the Machines, with the original model from that film still featuring its police sirens and electronics.
1979 Honda CB750
Speaking of iconic film motorcycles, the 1979 Honda CB750 featured alongside Mel Gibson in the original Mad Max film, used during its unforgettable chase sequences. The model featured in that film is not just a noteworthy collectible for motorcycle enthusiasts but film buffs as well.
1905 FN Fabrique Nationale
Honestly, for the time it arrived in, the Fabrique Nationale still looks fantastic. But besides its aesthetic value, the Nationale was the very first production four-cylinder motorcycle and was decades ahead of the curve all the way back in 1905.
1978 Kawasaki Z1R Turbo Stage 3
Only a handful of Z1R Turbo Stage 3’s were ever produced, which already makes this a collector’s item worth having. However, it’s made even more significant by the fact that one of these mean machines was the personal hog of none other than Billy Gibbons - yes, the one from ZZ Top.
1923 Harley-Davidson Broad Racer
Aside from its considerable age, the Broad Racer from Harley-Davidson is also rare due to the limited number of models produced. These were made at a time when board-track racing was a big deal, and it was an unparalleled speed demon for a brief window of time before being overshadowed by other models.
1919 Traub
It may be cheating to feature the Traub on this list - you could, with enough money, feasibly get your hands on the bikes we’ve already mentioned, but you’d need to send this one in for further study. The Traub was discovered in 1968 (despite being made in 1919), and features engineering so advanced that enthusiasts still debate its origins to this day.
1907 Indian Camelback V-Twin
You wouldn’t be incorrect in assuming that motorcycles before, say, 1905, were nothing more than exactly that: motorized bicycles. However, the Indian Camelback V-Twin changed all of that by being the first motorcycle to feature, you guessed it, a V-Twin, ultimately leading to motorcycles becoming the powerful, mean machines we know and love today.
2016 Egli Vincent
The Egli Vincent is one of the newest models on this list, built in 2016 by none other than Fritz Egli, who had long carried the Vincent torch forward. As one of his last creations, it represents the absolute peak of Swiss engineering, refined and perfected over more than half a century.
1915 Cyclone V-Twin
The Cyclone V-Twin may not have been the fastest machine to ever grace the pre-war roads of 1915, but in 2025, it was, at the very least, the most expensive. It sold for a ludicrous $1.32 million, and that was just one of them. Only 14 were ever made, making this a highly coveted collector’s item indeed.
1966 Honda RC166
The Honda RC166 earns its place on this list thanks to its stellar racing pedigree. It was an 18,000 RPM hornet of a motorcycle that dominated the track when it was released, winning 10 out of 10 races.
1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller
Modern motorcycling started with the 1894 Hildebrand & Wolfmüller, the very first series-based motorcycle to be produced. This style of production would influence and define how motorcycles were made going forward, despite the fact that only around 2,000 units were ever made.
1983 Honda CX650 Turbo
These days, you’ll see the word “turbo” slapped onto plenty of motorcycles, but the first turbo craze ended with the Honda CX650. It was only in production for a year before everyone got over their turbo obsession, but it still left an indelible mark on motorcycle history.
1936 Crocker Small Tank
This Crocker may have had a small tank, but it had a big impact in 1936, representing the pinnacle of what pre-war engineering could look like. It even humiliated the folks over at Harley-Davidson for a brief period but was quickly discontinued after just 110 models were produced.
1914 Levis
Although there were plenty of landmark achievements in motorcycle engineering to come out of this era, the 1914 Levis was significant not for its craftsmanship but simply for how it provided personal transportation to ordinary British people at the time (in a time, of course, when personal transportation was not the norm).
1931 Coventry Eagle 196cc
The Coventry Eagle from 1931 probably doesn’t seem like the most impressive machine on paper. However, it was a radical departure from traditional design at a time when such changes were generally scoffed at. Sure enough, the Coventry Eagle was eventually swallowed up by the more conservative motorcycle market of its time, but it remains an interesting - and highly collectible - relic for motorcycle enthusiasts.
1948 Vincent Black Lightning
Before the Black Shadow, there was the Black Lightning, which at the time was Vincent HRD’s most advanced machine - and the fastest production bike in the world at that time. Sure enough, it was soon overshadowed by the Black Shadow, but the Black Lightning remains a rare collector’s item.
2001 Münch Mammut 2000
The 2001 Münch Mammut 2000 has the look of something Tom Cruise might ride in a Mission: Impossible film. Sure enough, it’s still one of the most powerful demons on two wheels to ever be released, representing the culmination of Friedl Munich’s efforts to create a lean, mean, roaring machine.
2005 Bimota Tesi 2D
This bike was never really intended for public use; rather, it was an exercise in experimentation, a radical departure from traditional front-end engineering. Of course, the Italians were responsible for it.
1941 Indian Four
The 1941 Indian Four may not have pulled insane performance ratings, but it represents the pinnacle of cool when it comes to style. It’s a genuine product of its time, with art deco design features and a plunger rear suspension, and often fetches well over $100,000 at auctions.
Norton Manx
In contrast to the 1941 Indian Four, the Norton Manx was actually better known for its performance rather than its style. It pretty much single-handedly dominated the track in the Isle of Man TT races and is particularly revered among racing enthusiasts.
Triumph Bonneville T120
No, it’s not a Terminator. The T120 was the first to bear the Bonneville name, and although it was eventually discontinued in the 70s, it still managed to establish itself as an icon of the road, particularly among counterculture circles.
Ducati 750 Super Sport
The Ducati name shouldn’t be at all unfamiliar to anyone with even a passing knowledge of motorcycles. This particular model had a racing-inspired look - and performance to match. Only 401 units were ever produced, and they can easily fetch up to $200,000 at auction.
Norton Commando 750
If you want your motorcycle to inspire fear and awe, give it a vaguely militaristic name like the Commando 750 from Norton. It featured a 745cc parallel-twin engine coupled with an innovative frame that instantly made its physical design stand out.
Kawasaki Z1
Kawasaki is one of the biggest names in the motorcycle industry, almost synonymous with speed, performance, and lethality, if that makes sense. The original Z1 set a new standard in the industry with its 903cc inline-four engine, making it highly sought after today.
Laverda Jota
If other names like the Commando 750 or Black Shadow inspire fear and awe, it’s hard to say what the name Laverda Jota is supposed to conjure up. In any case, original Laverda Jota models nonetheless featured robust performance and decidedly Italian looks.
BMW R32
The original R32 is significant due to its status as BMW’s first-ever mass-produced motorcycle. It singlehandedly set the standard for what German motorcycle engineering should look like with its 30 cubic inch flat-twin engine and shaft drive.
Matchless G12
Although the Matchless G12 was a British motorcycle, it was specifically designed to capture an American audience. Though it went up against some stiff competition, the G12 was still noted for its unique style and excellent performance.
Ducati 916
Is it blasphemy that, despite us being so close to the end of our list, this is only the second Ducati to make it here? Maybe. But we’re glad to include the 916 in any case, thanks to its 916cc V-twin engine and its iconic design, which many people still believe to be the most beautiful in motorcycling history.
Suzuki GSX-R1100
We’re as surprised as you to only be mentioning Suzuki now, but the GSX-R1100 is probably still their best (or at least, most iconic) model. This thing was lightning fast in the 80s, and despite its large size, it handled fairly easily.
Ducati GT1000
The GT1000 is one of the newer models on this list, but even then, it was still considered ahead of its time. Although other Ducati models tend towards the bulkier side, the GT1000 emphasizes sleekness and style - not to mention incredible performance.
Harley-Davidson Knucklehead
Motorcycle history buffs were no doubt just waiting for us to mention this iconic machine. The Knucklehead is distinctive for its V-twin engine and classic styling, as well as its significance in the history of American motorcycling.
Moto Guzzi V8
Leave it to the Italians to create such styling machines. The Moto Guzzi V8 featured - you guessed it - a distinctive V8 engine and was particularly prominent in racing circles. It’s now a highly-coveted collector’s item.
1976 Suzuki RE5
The RE5 from Suzuki immediately stood out for its Wankel rotary engine, separating itself from traditional piston-engine bikes. Only around 6,000 units were ever produced, making it a fairly rare collector’s item today.
